Savannah attorney Benjamin Sheftall Eichholz on Thursday pleaded not guilty in federal court to a 77-count indictment charging him with embezzlement and money laundering from an employee pension plan.

U.S. Magistrate Judge G.R. Smith allowed Eichholz to remain free without posting a monetary bond, but required that he surrender his passport and not seek a new one in condition for his release. Eichholz, 58, has remained free since his indictment Aug. 5.Thursday was his first court appearance.

Smith told Eichholz he is charged as the owner/operator of a local law firm with abusing his trust relationship over an employee retirement benefit plan by using the contributions to the plan for his own use.He is also charged with embezzling more than $950,000, using the U.S. mail to send annual reports on the plan to the U.S. Labor Department and concealing the scheme and obstruction of justice.

Smith expressed concerns about Eichholz retaining control of the funds in the retirement benefit plan that is the subject of the indictment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Rafferty, in reponse to Smith’s concerns, told the court, “The issue about how much funds remain in this case is unclear.”

Smith quickly made it clear he was in charge.When lead defense lawyer Michael Weinstock of Atlanta attempted to raise his own issue when asked for Eichholz’s plea, Smith turned to Julie Wade, a former assistant U.S. attorney now one of the defense lawyers, and asked how Eichholz would plea.

“Mr. Eichholz pleads not guilty,” Wade quickly responded.

When Weinstock again attempted to interject his issue, Smith shot back, “We’re going to take it in the order I want to take it.”On another issue, a government notification of a possible conflict of interest involving Weinstock and a client of his firm, Smith admonished the lawyer that his responses to the court’s questions were incomplete.

“Your knowledge is rather limited,” Smith said. “You can’t give me any details.”Weinstock protested he did not know the witness, “Mr. Bailey,” in question and did not think any conflict existed.

Smith set a hearing for Wednesday, telling Weinstock, “By that point, you’d better be up to speed.”Smith withheld a ruling Thursday, but if he finds or suspects a conflict exists, can remove Weinstock from the case.

Rafferty, lead government prosecutor, told Smith the government’s evidence includes about 25,000 pages in paper and another 250 of transcribed testimony over three different sessions before a federal grand jury.

While much of that material will be provided fairly quickly to the defense team, prosecutors plan to provide the grand jury transcripts about 30 days before trial, Rafferty said.

“There is an historic, long-standing policy in this court ... of open file discovery,” Smith told defense lawyers. “I don’t think the government, at this point, is required to turn over all that type material.”